A Visit With Marvin: The Holiday (Book 2)

4

Day After Christmas

The storm had finally slowed down enough that it was deemed safe to go outside again. The power had been off for a whole day, and while Marvin and Chase felt bad for others who had to deal with it, they dealt in their own, more magical, ways. Marvin set a fire for them, big enough to heat the whole room. While this meant he had to keep a better eye on it, at least they would be warm.

He'd also been able to keep making their food with help from his own magic, but it meant he had to briefly sacrifice one or the other. The solution to this, Chase figured out, was to build a thick blanket fort away from any windows and keep a smaller, more manageable and controlled fire inside. Marvin even taught him how to keep it from both burning out or getting too big, since magic fire was so unpredictable and needed extra taming. The fire listened to him quickly, putting Marvin into more awe.

By the time Christmas came, they were warm again from the heater, but still kept their fort up and candles going for extra warmth and honestly it was just comfortable. Marvin kept teaching him tricks that he could do without his own magic, and how to interact with it better, something he'd been forbidden to teach when he still lived with them all. He wouldn't stop praising Chase for every success, and the fact that Chase was such a fast learner.

The storm had slowed sometime while they were sleeping Christmas night, and the news came on to say it was safe, leading Marvin and Chase to quickly getting dressed to head outside.

There was definitely way more snow on the ground than either had ever seen, and kids were bundled up heavily so they could play in it. Chase and Marvin were covered in snow by the time they reached the mall, despite how much they'd avoided bigger piles, moreso because of mischievious kids and a mischievious Chase who kept throwing snow then acting like he hadn't.

The mall was still done up, and the two made their first stop to the cafe they'd first gone to, for a hot chocolate and floral tea, as well as some breakfast biscuits. They then went through some stores solo, grabbing things for one another as late Christmas gifts, before finally ending up back at the far end of the mall where the original Christmas tree and decoration store was. The toy store beside it held much appeal, leading the two men inside on a whim, and picking many things for Chase's kids.

Chase turned one corner, his basket already full, and couldn't make it back out in time before seeing someone he wished he hadn't, and who had already seen him.

Jackie tried to hold back a scoff, smiling to cover it. "Fancy seeing you here. Getting some things for the little ones?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. Talked to Stacey this morning, I get to see them on New Years Eve, at Marvin's. What are you doing here?" Unlike Jackie, Chase didn't hold back his attitude. He shifted the basket's weight, watching Jackie's eyes trail him.

"I am, too. Was going to call her this afternoon and set something up. Just getting a couple things, while it looks like you're spoiling them hard." Jackie narrowed his eyes at the basket. "Do you need some help with that?"

Chase opened his mouth to speak, shifting his weight again, when suddenly the basket lifted itself up and out of his hands, and Chase turned to see Marvin. "No, actually, I think we've got it under control, thanks."

"Yeah," Chase agreed, sending a shit-eating smile Jackie's way. "And, I really don't think you'll be needing to make that call. Once Stacey heard what was going on this morning, she told the lawyer to put you on a no-contact list for my kids. Your name's right under you-know-who's, isn't that just ironic?"

Jackie clenched his fist around the toy in his hand. "Kind of low, if you ask me."

"You stoop as low as you have, you're going to pay the price. You don't have as many people on your side as you might expect. Everyone will turn against you, and it'll be no one's fault but yours. That's not a threat, that's a promise," Marvin muttered. He was tempted to take the toy from Jackie, but maybe the stubborn bastard would buy it anyway, then embarrass himself when trying and failing to deliver it. "You go on ahead and ruin their lives, too. My place is always open for them."

"I'll be sure to send them the message. You're just as bad a manipulator. Chase will realise, they all will."

"Keep telling yourself that," Chase said, walking backward down the aisle. "I'm going to find more things I can spoil my kids with. Have a great day, you need it."

Jackie stayed put, watching Marvin and Chase walk off with their full basket, and grabbing another as they passed and threw the toy he was holding onto a shelf nearby, but still didn't leave the store right away, instead following the two from afar. He missed when they left, though, only hearing over the store's intercom, "brat in aisle 3," then making an embarrassed run for it.

.

New Years Eve

The little tree was decorated fuller than before, while still scraggly and full of it's original personality. Chase kept adjusting it, hoping for it to be "just right" for when his kids and Stacey arrived, but Marvin ended up stopping him and asking him to help in getting the food ready, and the desserts out of the oven.

"They're going to love everything, Chase, I promise. There are more gifts than they've probably ever seen in their lives, a tree just their height, the food's all coming out just right... there won't be any problems, I promise." Marvin held his shoulders from behind as he iced some already cooled cookies on the table. "Don't ignore me, I know you're still worrying. Please, just try and have some fun."

"I'm fine, I'm not worrying," Chase assured. "I guess I just wish this was a normal visit, with all of you. I don't think that's going to happen ever again, though."

"It's been a week. If Jackie doesn't realise the error of his ways soon, he never will, but there could still be hope. Even if it's not old normal, it can be the new normal. With just you, me, Stacey, and the kids. That's a great family, if you ask me. And now you have a vouch for being clean, so the process can go faster!"

"What would I do without you?" Chase asked, leaning into him as he switched trays to some small cakes.

"Worry yourself into an early grave, but that's just what brothers do, man. I'll be here for you, no matter what."

They fell into silence, until the door was being knocked on. Chase tried not to panic, but instead kept mumbling, "Shit, shit, shit, shit-"

"Keep the language to a minimum, Chase. It's okay, I'll get it."

Chase sat at the table, his chin on his hands, and the door opened. He heard little thumping boots run inside, and two little shouts of, "UNCLE MARV!" Then a pair of more feminine steps, and the door closed.

"This looks just lovely, doesn't it? Do you want to get their outside clothes off? I've got to see Chase."

"Yeah, no problem," Marvin replied.

Chase didn't move, listening to the thump of boots being thrown, and snowsuit zippers being undone. He looked and Stacey was standing in front of him. "Hi..."

She smiled, "Hi. The place looks lovely, smells great, too."

Chase smiled back. "We worked really hard getting it all set up. I'm glad you guys could come."

Stacey sat across from him, and he was surprised the kids hadn't already bothered them. She grasped his hand, pulling it down from his face, and he sunk her fingers into his cheek. "I'm glad we could, too. It took a lot of fighting, but I think I'm getting through. They're your kids, too, after all. They can't just keep them from us like this. I hope we can find a place again where we're all happy."

"Marvin offered his place to us, with him, of course. It might not be like before, but it could be better. They love him. Think about it, but that's not what today is. I have so much to give them, and you. So much," he reiterated, giggling like a teenager just thinking of all the gifts that weren't under the tree. "Come on."